Refillable business models

Refillable business models, or subscription-based or service-based models, have gained significant traction across various industries. These models rely on providing customers with a continuous service or product, often regularly, in exchange for a subscription fee. Here are some common types and examples of refillable business models:

1. Subscription Services: These models offer access to a service or a product for a recurring fee. Examples include:
• Streaming Services: Companies like Netflix, Spotify, and Amazon Prime offer access to movies, music, and other digital content for a monthly subscription fee.
• Software as a Service (SaaS): Businesses like Salesforce, Adobe Creative Cloud, and Microsoft Office 365 provide software applications on a subscription basis, typically charged monthly or annually.
• Meal Kit Subscriptions: Companies such as Blue Apron, HelloFresh, and Home Chef deliver pre-portioned ingredients and recipes to customers weekly.
2. Membership Models: These models offer members exclusive access, perks, or discounts in exchange for a recurring fee. Examples include:
• Retail Memberships: Companies like Costco and Sam's Club offer membership programs that provide access to bulk discounts and other benefits.
• Gym Memberships: Fitness clubs like Planet Fitness and Anytime Fitness offer membership packages that grant access to their facilities and services.
• Subscription Boxes: Companies like Birchbox and FabFitFun curate and deliver boxes of products to subscribers monthly or quarterly.
3. Refillable Products: These models focus on providing products that must be replenished regularly. Examples include:
• Subscription-Based Razors: Companies like Dollar Shave Club and Harry's offer subscription-based razor services, regularly providing customers with razor blades.
• Coffee Subscriptions: Blue Bottle Coffee and Trade Coffee offer subscription services for regular coffee deliveries.
• Personal Care Products: Brands like Quip (toothbrushes), Native (deodorants), and Blueland (cleaning products) offer subscription-based models for regularly replenished personal care and household items.
4. Freemium Models: These models offer essential services or products for free while charging for premium features or upgraded versions. Examples include:
• Freemium Games: Many mobile games offer free gameplay with the option to purchase in-game items or upgrades.
• Freemium Software: Apps like Evernote and Dropbox offer free versions with limited features, while premium subscriptions unlock additional functionality and storage space.
5. Rentals and Leasing: These models involve renting or leasing products for a period rather than outright purchase. Examples include:
• Car Rental Services: Companies like Zipcar and Enterprise Rent-A-Car offer short-term vehicle rentals.
• Furniture Rental: Businesses such as Feather and Fernish offer furniture rental services, allowing customers to furnish their homes without buying furniture outright.

Refillable business models offer several advantages, including recurring revenue streams, enhanced customer loyalty through ongoing engagement, and the ability to predict and manage inventory more effectively. However, they also come with challenges such as customer churn, maintaining service quality, and the need for continuous innovation to retain subscribers.

 

Modern waste management

Modern waste management encompasses a variety of strategies and technologies aimed at minimising the environmental impact of waste generation and disposal while maximising resource recovery. Some key components of modern waste management include:

1.  Source Reduction: Encouraging practices that reduce waste generation at the source, such as using reusable products, buying in bulk to minimise packaging waste, and opting for products with minimal or recyclable packaging.

2. Recycling and Composting: Implementing comprehensive recycling programs for materials such as paper, plastics, glass, and metals, as well as composting organic waste to produce nutrient-rich soil amendments.

3.   Waste Separation and Sorting: Establishing systems for separating different types of waste at the source or through centralised facilities to facilitate recycling and recovery of valuable materials.

4. Waste-to-Energy (WtE): This involves using technologies such as incineration, gasification, and anaerobic digestion to convert waste into energy, thereby reducing the volume of waste going to landfills and generating renewable energy.

5. Landfill Management: Implementing measures to minimise landfills' environmental impact, such as liners to prevent groundwater contamination, methane capture systems to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, and proper leachate management.

6.  Advanced Waste Treatment Technologies: Researching and deploying innovative technologies for treating various types of waste, such as chemical and biological processes for hazardous waste remediation and advanced materials recovery techniques.

7.    Waste Auditing and Management Planning: Conducting waste audits to assess the composition and volume of waste generated and developing comprehensive waste management plans to optimise resource recovery and minimise environmental impact.

8. Public Education and Awareness: Engaging communities through educational campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of waste reduction, recycling, and responsible waste management practices.

9.    Regulatory Frameworks and Policies: Enacting and enforcing regulations and policies at the local, national, and international levels to promote sustainable waste management practices, including extended producer responsibility and landfill diversion targets.

10. Circular Economy Initiatives: Promoting the transition to a circular economy model, where resources are kept in use for as long as possible through recycling, remanufacturing, and redesign, thus minimising waste generation and maximising resource efficiency.

Modern waste management systems often involve a combination of these strategies tailored to each community or region's specific needs and circumstances. Collaboration among government agencies, businesses, communities, and other stakeholders is essential to successfully implement effective waste management practices.

  

PYROLYSIS TECHNOLOGY

Pyrolysis is the thermal decomposition of complex organic matter in the absence of oxygen to simpler molecules that can be used as feedstocks for many processes. The main products produced by the pyrolysis process are

• activated carbon,
• biodiesel and 
• syngas.

Pyrolysis always consists of the endothermic reaction, though general combustion is done by the generation of heat reaction in the system

that produces solid, liquid, and gas, heating it at moderately high temperatures under a no oxygen or low oxygen atmosphere.

Biodiesel produced by the process of pyrolysis can be used purely as a fuel or for other petroleum products. The syngas is typically used for

combustion or to run turbines for power generation, including running the plant itself.

The biomass used in pyrolysis is typically composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The main parameters that govern the pyrolysis

process are 

• temperature, 
• heating rate, 
• solid residence time, 
• volatile residence time, 
• particle size and 
• density of particles.

Pyrolysis is, therefore categorised into three major types:

• flash,
• fast and 
• slow pyrolysis 

and are respectively based on

• temperature,
• heating rate and 
• residence time. 

The products of pyrolysis thus vary dramatically according to type. Cellulose is converted to

biochar and volatile compounds.

First road with plastic waste in Sri Lanka (பிளாஸ்டிக் கழிவுகளை உபயோகித்து தார்ச்சாலை அமைத்தல்.)

A 500 metre road from Ratmalana to Borupana, South of Colombo had been paved with an asphalt mixture containing shredded and molten plastic extracted from municipal waste.

Non-recyclable plastic waste is taken from municipal waste (in Sri Lanka plastic, paper and food waste is now separated in households) shredded and heated with aggregates at 165 degrees centigrade.

"The molten waste-plastic-mix coats the heated aggregates before being coated with bitumen," the firm said.

"The new material – waste plastic modified asphalt concrete mix – will be applied for surfacing of roads under 150 degrees centigrate temperature. "

The plastic asphalt mixture not only solves the waste problem but cuts road construction costs and makes the pavements more durable.

Tests are conducted on the pilot project, the company said.

"Similar waste plastic modified asphalt mixes are successfully applied to road surfacing in countries such as UK, Canada, Netherlands, Philippines, India and Indonesia," 

The Plastic and Bitumen Mixture

Using recycled plastic for road building sounds simple, but it actually requires a complex process to create the right material. "Different plastics do different things to bitumen," he explains. "If you use the wrong mix, it actually can make the bitumen more brittle."

It is good to avoids using PET bottles and other types of plastic that are easily recycled, and instead concentrates on types of waste plastic that might otherwise end up buried in the ground. Reid declined to go into too much detail, so as not to reveal too much about MacRebur's proprietary process.

In addition to keeping plastic out of landfills, the company's plastic road materials can save about 1 ton (.907 metric tons) in carbon dioxide output for each ton of bitumen that the plastic replaces, according to this fact sheet from MacRebur's website.

Thanks 

https://economynext.com/

பிளாஸ்டிக் கழிவுகளை உபயோகித்து தார்ச்சாலை அமைத்தல்.

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சேகரிக்கப்பட்ட பிளாஸ்டிக் கழிவுகள், 1.60 மி.மீ. முதல் 2.50 மி.மீ. அளவுள்ள சிறு சிறு துகள்களாக வெட்டு இயந்திரங்களின் உதவியால் வெட்டப்பட்டு, சேகரித்து வைக்கப்படுகிறது. பின்பு இவை, தார்ச்சாலை அமைக்க சேகரிக்கப்பட்ட 110° செல்சியஸ் அளவிற்கு சூடுபடுத்தப்பட்ட கற்களுடன் சேர்த்து சுழற்சி முறையில் கலக்கப்படுகிறது. அவ்வாறு கலக்கப்படும் போது, கற்களில் உள்ள 1709 செல்சியஸ் வெப்பத்தினால், 30லிருந்து 60 வினாடிகளுக்குள் சிறு துகள்களாக நறுக்கப்பட்ட, பிளாஸ்டிக் துகள்கள் இளகி, கற்களின் மேல் போர்த்தியது போல், கற்களின் மேற்பரப்புகளை முழுவதுமாக மூடிவிடுகிறது.

இவ்வாறு இளகிய பிளாஸ்டிக் கழிவுகளுடன் சேர்க்கப்பட்ட கற்கள், உறுதியானவையாகவும், பிடிப்புத் தன்மையுள்ளதாகவும், மாறிவிடுகிறது. மேலும், கற்களின் மேற்பரப்பில் உள்ள சிறு சிறு நுண் இடைவெளி முழுவதுமாக மூடப்படுவதால், அதனுள், மழைநீர் அல்லது உப்பு கலந்த நீர் புகாமல் தடுக்கப்படுகிறது. இதனால், கற்கள் மழைநீரை உறிஞ்சி சிறு சிறு கற்களாக உடைவது தவிர்க்கப்படுவதுடன், சாலை குறுகிய காலத்திற்குள் பாழ்படுவது தவிர்க்கப்படுகிறது. இவ்வாறு, இளகிய பிளாஸ்டிக் கழிவுகளுடன் சேர்க்கப்பட்ட கற்களுடன், 1650 செல்சியஸ் வெப்ப அளவில் சூடுபடுத்தப்பட்ட தார் சேர்க்கப்படுகிறது.

மேலே கூறப்பட்ட வெப்ப அளவுகளில், தயார் செய்யப்பட்ட கலவையானது, 1109 - 1209 செல்சியஸ் வெப்ப அளவிற்குள்ளாக, தயார் நிலையில் உள்ள சாலைகளில் பரப்பப்பட்டு, கனமுள்ள சாலை உருளை வண்டி மூலம் இறுக்கம் கொடுக்கப்பட்டு, பிளாஸ்டிக் தார்ச் சாலை அமைக்கப்படுகிறது. 10 சதுர மீட்டர் அளவும் 25 மி.மீட்டர் கனமும் உள்ள பிளாஸ்டிக் தார்ச்சாலை அமைக்க, 27 கிலோ தார்க்கலவையும் 3 கிலோ பிளாஸ்டிக் நறுக்குகளும் தேவைப்படும். சாதாரண தார்ச் சாலை அமைக்க 30 கிலோ தார்க்கலவை தேவைப்படும். ஒரு பிளாஸ்டிக் சாலை அமைக்க தார்க்கலவையின் அளவில் 10 சதவீதம் பிளாஸ்டிக் நறுக்குகள் தேவைப்படும். இவ்வாறு அமைக்கப்பட்ட சாலைகள், உறுதி வாய்ந்தவையாகவும் மழைக்காலங்களில் சேதமடையாமலும் பிளாஸ்டிக் கழிவுகளின் பயன்பாட்டினால் புற ஊதா நிறக் கதிர் வெளிப்பாடு இல்லாமலும், அதிக கனரக வாகனப் போக்குவரத்தை தாங்கக் கூடியவையாகவும், குறைந்தது 7 வருடங்களுக்கு எந்தவித சேதாரம் இல்லாமலும் பயன்பாட்டில் இருக்கும்.

Alternative Method 

தற்போது பல்கலைகழகங்களில், கழிவு பிளாஸ்டிக் பொருட்களைக்கொண்டு வீதி அமைத்தல் எனும் விடயத்தின் கீழ் (Using Waste Plastic in Road Construction) எனும் தலைப்பின் கீழ் பல ஆய்வுக்கட்டுரைகள் வெளி வந்துள்ளன. இதில் பாவிக்கப்படும் தாருக்கு சிபாரிசு செய்யப்பட்டளவு பிளாஸ்டிக் சேர்க்கப்பட்டு தார் வீதிகளுக்கு பாவிக்கலாம் என கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதனடிப்படையிலேயே எனிவரும் காலங்களில் கார்பட் வீதிகளுக்கு போடப்படும் அஸ்போல்ட் கொங்கிறீட்டுடன் சிபாரிசு செய்யப்பட்ட அளவு பிளாஸ்டிக் சேர்க்கப்பட்டு கார்பட் வீதிகள் அமைக்கப்படவுள்ளது.

இவ்வாறு பிளாஸ்டிக் சேர்ப்பதனால் வீதியின் பாவனைக்காலம் கூடுதலாகவும் வீதிகள் உறுதியாகவும் இருக்கும் எனவும் கூறப்படுகின்றது அத்துடன் மிக முக்கியமான விடயம் நகரிலே சேகரிக்கப்படும் பிளாஸ்டிக் போத்தல்கள் மீள் பாவனைக்கு உட்படுத்தி சுற்றுச்சூழலை பாதுகாக்கவும் முடியும்.

 திருகோணமலை  நகராட்சிமன்றம் பரீட்சாத்தமாக இராஜவரோதயம் சதுக்கத்திலுள்ள சிறிய வீதியொன்றிற்கு துண்டுகளாக வெட்டப்பட்ட பிளாஸ்டிக் போத்தல்களை தாருடன் உருக்கி 12.03.2021 அன்று வீதி தாரிடும் வேலையை ஆரம்பித்தது. தாரினையும் பிளாஸ்டிக்கினையும் உருக்கிய கலவையைக்கொண்டு சிறப்பாக வீதியை அமைத்துக்கொண்டது. 

Tackling E-Waste

‘Electronic Waste’. Electronic waste covers everything from home appliances like TVs, air conditioners, and fans to IT devices like computers and mobiles that have been replaced or have reached the end of their life cycle and need to be disposed of.

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is becoming a major threat to the whole world. Its toxic emissions mixed with virgin soil and air and causing harmful effects to the entire biota either directly or indirectly. Direct impacts include the release of acids, toxic compounds including heavy metals, carcinogenic chemicals and indirect effects such as biomagnification of heavy metals. Many private firms are involved in collecting, dismantling, separation and exporting e-wastes for recyclers. However, strict regulations are currently being followed as on approval of such firms such as e-steward certification by Basel action network in the USA, they also involved in public awareness programs; this review is based on collected information from various journal articles, websites including the technical note by Greenpeace international. Further, it analyzes the current progress on e-waste management worldwide.

Here’s an example to understand the scale of the problem, according to estimates by Ceylon Waste Management there are 7.6 Million CRT TVs and Monitors in Sri Lanka, and only 10% of that will be properly disposed. The remaining 90% will be around 67500 metric tons of CRTs, of which 8840 tons will be lead and 110 tons of arsenic. That’s a massive amount of poison that could leach into our ecosystem endangering both human and animal lives. Other methods must be employed to dispose of this waste.

What Happens to Devices at the End of Their Useful Life

Unfortunately, the majority of these electronic products end up in landfills, and just 12.5% of e-waste is recycled. According to a UN study, over 41.8 million tons of e-waste was discarded worldwide, with only 10%–40% percent of disposals appropriately done. Electronics are full of valuable materials, including copper, tin, iron, aluminum, fossil fuels, titanium, gold, and silver. Many of the materials used in making these electronic devices can be recovered, reused, and recycled—including plastics, metals, and glass. 

In a report, Apple revealed that it recovered 2,204 pounds of gold —worth $40 million—from recycled iPhones, Macs, and iPads in 2015. 

Benefits of E-Waste Recycling

Recycling e-waste enables us to recover various valuable metals and other materials from electronics, saving natural resources (energy), reducing pollution, conserving landfill space, and creating jobs. According to the EPA, recycling one million laptops can save the energy equivalent of electricity that can run 3,657 U.S. households for a year. Recycling one million cell phones can also recover 75 pounds of gold, 772 pounds of silver, 35,274 pounds of copper, and 33 pounds of palladium.

On the other end, e-waste recycling helps cut down on production waste. According to the Electronics TakeBack Coalition, it takes 1.5 tons of water, 530 lbs of fossil fuel, and 40 pounds of chemicals to manufacture a single computer and monitor. 81% of the energy associated with a computer is used during production and not during operation.

The Electronics Recycling Process

Electronics recycling can be challenging because discarded electronics devices are sophisticated devices manufactured from varying proportions of glass, metals, and plastics. The process of recycling can vary, depending on the materials being recycled and the technologies employed, but here is a general overview.

Collection and Transportation: Collection and transportation are two of the initial stages of the recycling process, including for e-waste. Recyclers place collection bins or electronics take-back booths in specific locations and transport the collected e-waste from these sites to recycling plants and facilities.

Shredding, Sorting, and Separation: After collection and transportation to recycling facilities, materials in the e-waste stream must be processed and separated into clean commodities that can be used to make new products. Efficient separation of materials is the foundation of electronics recycling. Shredding the e-waste facilitates the sorting and separation of plastics from metals and internal circuitry, and waste items are shredded into pieces as small as 100mm to prepare for further sorting.

A powerful overhead magnet separates iron and steel from the waste stream on the conveyor and then prepares it for sale as recycled steel. Further mechanical processing separates aluminum, copper, and circuit boards from the material stream—which now is mostly plastic. Water separation technology is then used to separate glass from plastics. The final step in the separation process locates and extracts any remaining metal remnants from the plastics to purify the stream further.

Preparation For Sale as Recycled Materials: After the shredding, sorting and separation stages have been executed, the separated materials are prepared for sale as usable raw materials for the production of new electronics or other products.

Electronics Recycling Associations

• ISRI (the Institute of Recycling Industries): ISRI is the largest recycling industry association with 1600 member companies, of which 350 companies are e-waste recyclers.
• CAER (Coalition for American Electronics Recycling): CAER is another leading e-waste recycling industry association in the U.S. with over 130 member companies operating around 300 e-waste recycling facilities altogether throughout the country.
• EERA (European Electronics Recyclers Association): EERA is the leading e-waste recycling industry association in Europe.
• EPRA (Electronic Products Recycling Association): EPRA is the leading e-waste recycling industry association in Canada.  

Current Challenges for Electronics Recycling Industry

The E-waste recycling industry has a significant number of challenges, which the primary one being exporting to developing nations. Exporting e-waste, including hazardous and toxic materials, is leading to serious health hazards for the workers working for dismantling electronic devices in countries without adequate environmental controls. Currently, 50%–80% of e-waste that recyclers collect is exported overseas, including illegally exported e-scrap, which is of particular concern. Overall, the inadequate management of electronics recycling in developing countries has led to various health and environmental problems.

Although the volume of e-waste is increasing rapidly, the quality of e-waste is decreasing. Devices are getting smaller and smaller, containing less precious metal. The material values of many end-of-life electronic and electrical devices have therefore fallen sharply. Electronics recyclers have suffered due to sagging global prices of recycled commodities, which have decreased margins and resulted in business closures.

Another problem is that as time goes on, many products are being made in ways that make them not easily recyclable, repairable, or reusable. Such design is often undertaken for proprietary reasons, to the detriment of overall environmental goals. Organizations such as ISRI have been active in promoting policies to broaden the range of authorized companies allowed to repair and refurbish smartphones to avoid their needless destruction. The current rate or level of e-waste recycling is definitely not sufficient. The current recycling rate of 15%–18% has much room for improvement as most e-waste still is relegated to the landfill.

Electronics Recycling Laws

Currently, 25 U.S. states have laws mandating statewide e-waste recycling, and several more states are working toward passing new legislation and improving the existing policy. State e-waste recycling laws cover 65% of the U.S. population, and some states, including California, Connecticut, Illinois, and Indiana, e-waste is banned from landfills. 

Potential Initiatives in Sri Lanka

Despite these initiatives, Sri Lanka is still far away in terms of e-waste management compared to most countries. Thus, existing bottlenecks need to be addressed in order for Sri Lanka to be a sustainable e-waste recycler. Strengthening policy and legislation is vital. Apart from the existing policy and regulation, the government could reinforce regulations, specifically on the imports of EEE. For instance, regulations should be enacted on discouraging the imports of used EEE, and to import equipment that has less hazardous elements; for example, LED/LCD monitors can replace CRT monitors, since CRT has more hazardous elements. In addition, suitable technology and skills need to be implemented in order to streamline the sustainable e-waste recycling system in the country. Proper mechanisms should also be developed to take out the informal market for e-waste recycling in the country. Improving the knowledge on e-waste within the community is crucial. Conducting programmes which highlight the social and ecological impacts of improper handling of e-waste, and the importance of disposing e-waste in proper places and in proper ways can be effective in raising public awareness. This can be provided through the public health staff, starting from grassroots levels. Also, the media can play a pivotal role in disseminating the message and making the mass community aware of the impacts of improper handling of e-waste as well as the proper mechanisms in recycling and its benefits.

‘E-waste’ should not be considered as normal ‘junk’. It may not impact you instantaneously, but could do so later in life. Therefore, much attention should be paid to this issue, considering the many health impacts that could be instigated by the e-waste around us.

Construction waste

Construction activities can generate large amounts of waste materials that then need to be disposed of. In addition, at the end of a building's life, it may be deconstructed or demolished, generating significant amounts of waste. Construction waste includes the waste that is generated during construction activities (such as packaging, or the products of demolition) and materials that are surplus to requirements (as a result of over-ordering or inaccurate estimating).

Typical construction waste products can include:

Insulation and asbestos materials.

Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics.

Wood, glass and plastic.

Bituminous mixtures, coal tar and tar.

Metallic waste (including cables and pipes).

Soil, contaminated soil, stones and dredging spoil.

Gypsum.

Cement.

Paints and varnishes.

Adhesives and sealants.

Increasingly, there are options available in terms of reusing and recycling materials, and reducing the amount of waste produced in the first place, but despite this, a large amount of construction waste is still disposed of in a landfill. 32% of landfill waste comes from the construction and demolition of buildings and 13% of products delivered to construction sites are sent directly to the landfill without having being used (ref. Technology Strategy Board)

This can be an expensive process, as the 1996 Finance Act introduced a tax on waste disposal on all landfill sites registered in the UK. 

To help tackle this, a site waste management plan (SWMP) can be prepared before construction begins, describing how materials will be managed efficiently and disposed of legally during the construction of the works, and explaining how the re-use and recycling of materials will be maximised. For more information, see Site waste management plan.

It may be possible to eliminate a certain amount of construction waste through careful planning. For example, steel formwork systems might be capable of being used for concrete works which can then be reused elsewhere on the project/s in place of timber formwork which is classed as waste once it has been used.

Other types of construction waste may be capable of being minimised; for example, products which are provided with reduced packaging or those which are composed of recycled materials. There can also be opportunities to re-use materials and products which are in a suitable condition (e.g. doors, windows, roof tiles and so on), or exchange them for other materials with a different construction site.

Materials and products which cannot be eliminated, minimised or reused may have to be disposed of as waste. Before sending waste for disposal, it should be sorted and classified to allow waste contractors to manage it effectively and ensure that hazardous waste is properly handled.

The Problem

Disposal of public fill at public filling areas and mixed construction waste at sorting facilities or landfills has been the major approach for construction waste management. For sustainable development, we can no longer rely solely on reclamation to accept most of the inert construction waste. As such, the government is examining ways to reduce and also to promote the reuse and recycling of construction waste. Nevertheless, there will still be a substantial amount of materials that require disposal, either at public fill reception facilities or at landfills.

Today, we are running out of both reclamation sites and landfill space. With the current trend, our landfills will be full in mid to late-2010s, and public fill capacity will be depleted in the near future. In 2013, the mixed construction waste accounts for about 25% of the total waste intake at the three existing landfills. If there are insufficient public fill capacity and waste reduction measures being implemented, more public fill would probably be diverted to landfills and the landfill life will be further shortened.

Bio-reactive food expiry label could cut food waste

A researcher has created a use-by-date label that decays as the same rate of food, in order to drastically reduce unnecessary food waste.

Known as the Bump Mark label, this new bio-reactive expiry date is made from gelatine, a protein that reacts to environmental conditions such as temperature and light - and anything else that affects food.

Developed by Sloveiga Pakstaite from Brunel University in London, the label has been named the UK winner of the James Dyson Award for innovatively tackling the global problem of food waste.

Each year the UN estimates that seven MILLION tonnes of food is wasted in the UK alone, often because it’s passed its marked use by date. However, much of this food would still be fine for consumption.

But the Bump Mark, because it contains an edible substance, can actually work out when something is no longer safe to eat.

"Gelatine sets solid but it has this property that when it is fully expired it loses its structure,” Pakstaite told the International Business Times UK.

The design works by placing gelatine on top of a textured plastic sheet - and when food goes off, the label will feel bumpy instead of smooth. This means it would also help people who are visually impaired to find out if what they were about to eat had gone off.

As Anthony Cuthbertson explains for the International Business Times UK:

“It can be used with different foods with varying expiration dates, such as milk or meat, by increasing or decreasing the concentration of the gelatine, whereby the higher the concentration, the longer the label will last.”

Pakstaite has now received £2,000 from the Dyson Foundation to further develop the device.

Source: International Business Times UK

The 3 R's of Sustainable Site Design

The 3 R's of Sustainable Site Design

I think just about everyone knows the 3 R's - "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle".  My 6 yr old has been known to recite it on occasion, and to his credit he understands at least the basics of it.  Recycling certainly gets the most air time and for the most part I think everyone associates the 3 R's with trash.  Reducing often requires some sacrifice which most of us don't like and in our expendable society reuse is more often than not ignored.  Recycling our trash is admirable and we should all do our best to do this very simple green task.  But I believe that the 3 R's have merit beyond just our consumables.  As a civil engineer and site designer I started thinking about how Reduce, Reuse, Recycle could be applied to what I do the most - site design.  Here is what I came up with - the 3 R's of Sustainable Site Design.

REDUCE
Reduce is probably the most impactful of the 3 R's - after all it is listed first.  The more we can reduce (consumption, development, etc) the less we will need to reuse and recycle.  This applies to development and construction projects as well.  If we first reduce, then we spend less time, money and energy trying to reuse, recycle, control etc.  In the early phases of our site designs we, as design professionals need to be thinking about how we can reduce:

• Impervious area - Almost always when we develop a previous undeveloped site (more on that below) we increase the impervious surface area.  By replacing pervious areas (grass, forest, brush etc) with impervious area (asphalt, concrete, roofs etc) we increase stormwater runoff, reduce groundwater recharge, increase surface temperatures and create a host of other problems.  If we first focus on REDUCING impervious area we can reduce the amount of work it takes to counteract these effects.
• Disturbance - Land disturbance damages the soil ecosystems, destroys vegetation, alters stormwater patterns and pollutes runoff.  Some of these affects can be remedied or counteracted, but if we first REDUCE the area disturbed we can reduce the impact as well. 
• Runoff - Both of the items listed above contribute to increased stormwater runoff, so the first line of defense it to reduce impervious area and land disturbance.  But you can only reduce those so much and still develop and build, but you can still focus additional attention on reducing runoff.  Many stormwater ordinances and practitioners still focus solely on flow rate reduction and not volume reduction.  To reduce the impact on groundwater resources, erosion and the hydrologic cycle we need to also REDUCE runoff volumes to at or below pre-development levels. 

REUSE

If we are to assume that reduce has the most impact judging by its place in the 3 R's then we can also assume that reuse has the second greatest opportunity for impact - which I believe is true.  In many ways reuse and recycle are interchangeable, but here we are going to consider that reuse does not require re-manufacturing, processing etc.  Can we apply this to site design?  I think so and here's how we can - reuse:

• Development sites - REUSING previously developed sites is one of the best ways to limit the environmental degradation caused by the development process.  In addition to preserving a green field site that would be used for your project you are also able to take advantage of existing infrastructure and hopefully limit the impact associated with transportation to a more remote site.
• Natural features - The natural features of a site; topography, water features, vegetation, etc have been refined over time in a way that is difficult or impossible to replicate.  Rather than working against these natural features we should concentrate on REUSING them for the benefit of the site.  This could include improving and reusing an existing wetland for stormwater management or using existing tree canopy to shade buildings and hardscapes. 
• Artificial features - As with natural features its often possible and beneficial to REUSE any existing artificial features on the site.  If there is an existing farm pond, road or parking lot on site, try to REUSE those features rather than demolishing them and starting over.  Doing this eliminates demolition waste and saves on raw materials and labor associated with rebuilding them.

RECYCLE

Last and maybe least (depending on your viewpoint!) of the 3 R's is recycle.  Recycling is certainly important, it can reduce raw material consumption, energy use and landfill space among other benefits.  It's also one of the easiest and most visible green things that you can do.  There are a lot of things you can do as a designer that the general public won't understand or appreciate but people can relate to recycling and that can propel more people to act sustainably.  So beyond our trash, what can we as site designers recycle?

• Stormwater - Traditional/conventional civil engineering wisdom was/is to get stormwater off site as quickly and efficiently as possible.  But why not RECYCLE it?  Stormwater can be captured and RECYCLED for gray water in buildings, irrigation, fire protection or habitat creation and restoration.  
• Materials - There are a myriad of opportunities for RECYCLED materials use in site development.  Recycled asphalt pavement, fly ash replacement in concrete and recycled rubber and plastic appurtenances are just a few of the products that can be specified and used in the site development process. By doing this we are encouraging recycling of materials and reducing raw material extraction and energy.
• Waste - Almost all site development projects require some sort of demolition or clearing.  Rather than hauling off this waste we should consider the opportunities for RECYCLING that waste on site.  For example, demolished concrete can be used as aggregate base for paved surfaces, cleared trees can be chipped/mulched on site and used for erosion control or landscaping and demolished asphalt can be RECYCLED into new asphalt surfaces.

I am sure that are points that I missed here so please send your ideas my way if you have any thing to add.  Ultimately, I think that the 3 R's are a good example that going green and creating more sustainable spaces doesn't have to be complicated.  In engineering school the most important thing that they teach you is how to break down a problem into simple parts - and that's what the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle mantra helps us do.  And if you're not a civil engineer or site design professional hopefully you can use the 3 R's to make your life and work more sustainable.